Directional Preposition 往 in Chinese
往 + 方向
The preposition 往 introduces the direction or destination of a movement. Its direction phrase appears before the motion verb, as in 往北走 or 往学校去. This lesson covers preverbal 往, not postverbal compounds such as 开往北京 and not abstract or interpersonal targets that normally favor 向.
Published August 1, 2026
Reviewed August 1, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
Subject + 往 + Direction / Destination + Motion Verb
Read the structure
The preposition 往 introduces the direction or destination of a movement. Its direction phrase appears before the motion verb, as in 往北走 or 往学校去. This lesson covers preverbal 往, not postverbal compounds such as 开往北京 and not abstract or interpersonal targets that normally favor 向. Keep the model Subject + 往 + Direction / Destination + Motion Verb visible while you compare each sentence.
从这里往北走三百米就到了。
Walk three hundred meters north from here and you will arrive.
Choose the right context
Give the direction followed by a movement. Name a concrete destination before a motion verb. Use common spoken navigation instructions.
他骑着自行车往学校去了。
He rode his bicycle toward school.
Respect the boundary
Do not place the motion verb between 往 and its direction. Do not move preverbal 往 after its destination. Do not use 往 for an interpersonal action target such as smiling at someone.
我们往走学校。
(We toward walk school.)
Repair the pattern
The motion verb splits 往 from its destination: 往 must directly introduce the destination before the motion verb. The destination is incorrectly placed before 往: The order is 往 plus destination, followed by the movement predicate.
我们往学校走。
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
从这里往北走三百米就到了。
Walk three hundred meters north from here and you will arrive.
从
Subject
This part occupies the Subject position in the model pattern.
这里
往
This part occupies the 往 position in the model pattern.
往北
Direction / Destination
This part occupies the Direction / Destination position in the model pattern.
走
Motion Verb
This part occupies the Motion Verb position in the model pattern.
三百
Subject
This part occupies the Subject position in the model pattern.
米
往
This part occupies the 往 position in the model pattern.
就
Direction / Destination
This part occupies the Direction / Destination position in the model pattern.
到了
Motion Verb
This part occupies the Motion Verb position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
从这里往北走三百米就到了。
Walk three hundred meters north from here and you will arrive.
他骑着自行车往学校去了。
He rode his bicycle toward school.
请一直往前走。
Please keep walking straight ahead.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Give the direction followed by a movement.
- Name a concrete destination before a motion verb.
- Use common spoken navigation instructions.
Do not use it when
- Do not place the motion verb between 往 and its direction.
- Do not move preverbal 往 after its destination.
- Do not use 往 for an interpersonal action target such as smiling at someone.
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
我们往走学校。
我们往学校走。
The motion verb splits 往 from its destination
往 must directly introduce the destination before the motion verb.
他学校往骑车去了。
他骑着自行车往学校去了。
The destination is incorrectly placed before 往
The order is 往 plus destination, followed by the movement predicate.
我们往走学校。
往 must directly introduce the destination before the motion verb.
他学校往骑车去了。
The order is 往 plus destination, followed by the movement predicate.
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with 往 + 方向.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 往 + 方向. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
Directional Preposition 往 Questions
Can 往 and 向 both mark direction?
Yes. Both can introduce concrete directions, but 往 is especially common in spoken navigation, while 向 also covers abstract and interpersonal targets.
Is 开往 the same structure?
No. In 开往北京, 往 follows a motion verb. This lesson focuses on the preverbal phrase 往北京走.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: Appendix A, Level 2 item 【二22】, PDF p. 188
Lists preverbal direction-marking 往 at Level 2 with movement examples.
Official sourceLaoshi Chinese Grammar Reference
Laoshi editorial team · Laoshi · 2026
Locator: Expressing direction with 往 and 向, preposition section
Explains the order 往 plus direction plus verb and distinguishes preverbal 往 from postverbal complements.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Easy to confuse
朝朝: Toward a Direction
Compare 往 with 朝 before concrete directions while preserving their different common collocations.
Compare
从从 for a Starting Point
Contrast the destination or direction of movement with the point from which movement begins.
Compare
沿（着）沿着: Along a Path
Distinguish the direction headed toward from the path actually followed during movement.
Continue learning
趋向补语Simple Directional Complements
Continue from a preverbal direction phrase to direction encoded after a motion verb.
RECOMMENDED NEXT
Easy to confuse
Compare 往 with 朝 before concrete directions while preserving their different common collocations.